UNH business school dean is considering congressional bid

The dean of the University of New Hampshire business school says he is in the "very early" stages of deciding whether or not to challenge incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter for Congress next year.

The dean, Dan Innis, of Portsmouth, said he has been discussing the idea with friends and seeking out advice about a potential run. He hasn't set a deadline on when he'll make a decision.

"I have had a few people talk with me about the possibility and it is something that I have started to think about," Innis said. "It is pretty basic and early conversation."

Innis has been the talk among Seacoast Republican activists for a few weeks. A Republican gay married male, Innis would no doubt have an ability to raise national money and would provide an interesting media story. As a dean, much of his job is focused on developing a fundraising donor base. Those advantages, however, will be tested in a low turn-out Republican primary, even in a state where Republicans didn't overturn the state's gay marriage law when they had veto-proof majorities in the legislature last year.

Innis, however, has been deeply involved in the nation's fiscal issues and has worked with groups like the Concord Coalition in the past.

"I think that most people who are interested in running for office are those who want make things better," said Innis, carefully noting that he is not yet among those actually running at this point. "I am in an exploratory phase. It is very, very early."

Innis has been the dean at UNH since 2007.

If he does run he it is most likely that he would face former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-Manchester, in a primary. Shea-Porter defeated Guinta last year. Guinta has not made a decision on whether to seek the seat.